Thanksgiving weekend family activities in Ottawa-Gatineau
One of the things you can be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend is that there's so much going on in the Ottawa-Gatineau area.
So if you're looking for ways to keep yourself busy, check out the following list of events taking place in and around the region.
Saturday
Cranberries are an integral part of any Thanksgiving meal, so how about a whole festival devoted to them? That's happening on Saturday in Kazubazua, Que., north of Gatineau, just in time to coincide with the fall cranberry harvest.
Staying on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, the second Pontiac Country Fair gets underway on Saturday and runs all weekend. It's a showcase for some of the region's local food vendors and artisans.
If you're already thinking about Halloween, head down to the Diefenbunker, where zombies will be invading the cold war facility. Incident at the Bunker: A Zombie Adventure is a partnership with the Haunted Walk of Ottawa, and it's running throughout the fall, with the first "interactive adventure" taking place this weekend.
Sunday
The Museum of Nature has been hosting a Sunday brunch series all year, and on Sunday it's a special Thanksgiving brunch — with turkey, ham, salads, soups, and apple and pumpkin desserts on the menu.
It's also the Ottawa Fall Colours run on Sunday, and runners can register for the marathon, half-marathon, or assorted shorter distances — including a one-kilometre "turkey trot."
For those who might not be able to afford a full Thanksgiving dinner, there are a few options. Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre is hosting its annual meal, with festivities getting underway at 3 p.m. As well, Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School is hosting its 24th annual Thanksgiving meal, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You're more likely to see hot dogs and egg rolls than turkey and stuffing at the Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday, as the Ottawa Senators take to the ice for their home opener against the Montreal Canadiens. The puck drops at 7 p.m., but doors open at 5 p.m. and the team is urging fans to show up early because of new NHL security measures. As of Friday afternoon, tickets were still available.
Monday
Last year the Ottawa Mission served up nearly 2,800 plates of turkey, and they're doing it again in 2015. The Waller Street shelter is hosting its free Thanksgiving dinner Monday from 11:30 to 5 p.m.
Carleton University's annual butterfly show runs all weekend, with Monday the last day to see all the fluttering.
Monday's also your last chance to check out The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great at the Canadian Museum of History. The exhibition, which has brought more than 500 artifacts covering five millennia of Greek history to the Ottawa-Gatineau region for the first time, is wrapping up its nearly five-month run at the museum.
